Old, tired, can't keep up

[CannotKeepUpAnymore]

My username says it all. I'm 18 months away from state retirement age, in a job I've done for 20+ years, and I've finally had to admit that I can't keep up anymore. I'm making mistakes, missing deadlines, sometimes failing to understand briefs. Everyone of a similar age as me has drifted away over the years, and I'm now by far the oldest member of my team. The whole "vibe" has changed; every other team member grew up with computers, and agile working and multitasking are second nature to them.

Added to this, I have developed health issues of my own, am dealing with problems with my property, and have an extremely elderly mother (not living nearby) who needs constant help and attention.

"Why not just retire?" You might say. That is exactly what I'd like to do, but unfortunately my workplace pension is tiny, and I cannot claim my state pension until I'm 66. My line manager is very understanding, but I don't think there is much they can do to help me. I feel like I'm well and truly finished in the workplace. Is there any solution other than stumbling on, exhausted (and sometimes, to be honest, humilated), trying to make it through?

Are you claiming PIP?
It sounds like you'd qualify for anxiety and depression.

Is there a more junior role you could move to that while less money, will give enough for you to get by until retirement?

otherwise perhaps just accept you won’t do a great job, but it’ll have to do for 18 months. Take sick leave for a day when you need to rest.

Could you hand in your notice and take a small part time job? That's what my Dad did until he reached pension age. I appreciate it might not cover your bills or it might not be easy to find a part time job.

It’s likely that struggling with your job isn’t due to ageing, it’s because of exhaustion and the stresses placed on you - health, property issues, and looking after your mother who sounds like she’s leaning heavily on you.

Can you get more help so that these issues don’t drain so much of your time and energy? Do you have Occupational Health at work who could support your health issues and suggest workplace adjustments? Can you get support for your mother?
It isn’t right that you should feel forced out of your job and lose your income. If you can keep going for just 18 months you’ll get the full occupational pension and state pension, and possibly other benefits if your work pension is very low.

Be careful about taking on more and more care of your mother. You could end up caring for her full time, exhausting yourself and damaging your health even more.

Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. I hope I didn't give the impression I was in some kind of high-powered job! The fact is, my job is already fairly modest in grade, so I couldn't ask my manager to put me in a more junior role. I really don't feel up to looking for another job... to be honest I feel so mentally worn out I don't think I'd be especially efficient in any job at the moment. I just want out from the workplace forever. Perhaps my best bet is to struggle on, ticking the weeks off as I inch towards final retirement age.

You will have skills and knowledge the younger people in your team don’t have. A good manager should be working out what these are and making sure you’re working on things that suit your skillset.

Rubbish. It's extremely hard to get it for depression & anxiety. Op will need all sorts of evidence & intervention from the nhs mental health teams.

Is there any chance they might need to make redundancies at your place and you could volunteer to go?

This. They could be harnessing all your strengths and reaping the benefits while hopefully making things a little better for you.

Do you get full pay if you go off sick? If so, then could you get signed off for a few weeks to give yourself the time and space to rest and recover? You might feel more able to tackle your job after that or at least give yourself a break before making any long term decisions about leaving. Good luck xx

Oh, I so know how you feel. I cut my working hours right down when this happened to me; easier than your situation because I was self employed and had some choice about how much to do. And I have to say that nobody I worked for wanted me to stop - they agreed that I was slower than I used to be and needed more reminders, but still thought I was doing a good job and valued my experience. Maybe that is the case for you? But if you're really not happy working in your normal field and continuing to earn is essential for the next 18 months could you look for an easier job that fits in with your energy and health levels? It may not be as well paid but so long as it paid the bills... Good luck.

Do you get phased retirement? You mention grades - is it local government/other public sector? If you can manage 6 more months until phased retirement kicks in then that would help. Or you could consider dropping a day. You also mention health issues - with only 18 months to go then take all the sick leave you can get. Or would you qualify for medical retirement?

Have you been to see your GP recently for blood tests to rule out a health issue? Do you take a multi vitamin with a high enough dose of vitamin D?

I would second this - see if there is a medical problem at the heart of this which could be resolved or at least alleviated.

Otherwise, I would absolutely keep on and just do the best you can for the time you have left. Don't fuck over your financial security.

A trifle rude, if I may say so?

With regard to health, I am awaiting investigations into a some symptoms I have been experiencing, and in the meantime have been put on meds which I am convinced are making me extra tired. Maybe that's making things feel worse than they would otherwise. My job is private sector, so no phased retirement and only a small pension pot on the horizon, unfortunately. Oh well... just plough on I suppose!

Could you talk to occupational health? They might help get you the investigations you need, or Could recommend light duties while you await the outcome of the tests.

Don't quit.

If necessary go off sick for a while.

Oh OP , I so feel for you .

I second the previous poster who said to take some sick leave and get your health sorted .

Take as long as they will allow you off sick .
They will then probably start to push you to come back or hand in your notice after the sick pay runs out but you can then ask to come back on a reduced Rota as part of a phased return to work . Hopefully the whole process should give you the best part of 6 months to a year . After that just give yourself permission to just "do what you can " and don't worry too much about competing with younger staff .

Are you full time OP?
could you drop a day?

I'd suggest that, if possible, you see if there is a more junior/manageable role you can do.

However, do NOT drop your salary.

Most companies would be prepared to let you carry on with your current salary until you retire!

Everyone makes mistakes at work, stop comparing yourself unfavourably with others as you can't see the total work output objectively. As a pp said you have experience and maturity that the others on your team don't have. You add value to your workplace or you would have been told to improve or worse. Maybe suggest going for lunch with your colleagues once a week to have a bit of social time with them, enjoy yourself and find some fun in your working life?

Agree - what a daft suggestion, I can't even see where op mentioned anxiety or depression just exhaustion for which lots of things could help alleviate the symptoms.. Why is claiming benefits always rolled out as the answer to everything?

It's the biggest reason people are awarded PIP actually.

Could you reduce hours?

Op does not even mention having anxiety or depression unless I'm missing something ?